Tag Archives: cranio-sacral therapy

Rosie has never really been the same since last winter. Her energy has felt low, depressed even, and since her most recent laminitic bout, although she seems less sore since her trim, she is still obviously tender on her front feet. On the positive side, she is walking around, better on soft ground, she is eating all her feed, I do not think she is lying down any more frequently, her coat is gleaming and she looks in good condition.

Homeopathy:

Recently I asked a homeopathic vet to come and look at her. We are fortunate in having a qualified homeopathic vet nearby and I wanted a different eye cast on Rosie to my regular vet. It was an interesting session. She spent a long time asking me about Rosie which made me think through our relationship together, how she learned to trust me, and made me realise just how low in energy Rosie has become. It is hard to spot when it seems to creep up on you.

The vet said that Rosie looked better than she expected and did not think she was a typical laminitic. She thought that she might be in the early stages of Cushings, which is something I have periodically wondered about. She did not recommend doing what she called expensive blood tests which could lead to a treatment that is in itself toxic. She said she needed to think about Rosie and would post me a constitutional remedy. She also remarked on Rosie’s very contracted muscles running over her buttocks and suggested I massage these gently and also suggested a gentle treatment such as cranio-sacral therapy might be good for Rosie. She thought these muscles were so contracted because of Rosie’s sore front feet as well as the dipped back of an elderly pony.

The remedy prescribed was sepia, to be administered for three days and she asked me to contact her again in a few weeks. I will do so soon. It is hard to tell, but I have thought Rosie looked a bit brighter since having the remedy.

Cranio-sacral therapy:

I know a very good cranio-sacral therapist who has come out to Ben on two occasions. Last Thursday she came to Rosie. She said that her vitality was very low, that the cranio-sacral fluid felt sluggish. I am fascinated by cranio-sacral therapy, and as Rosie’s body was treated, she released with yawns and sighs at different stages, her ears clearly telling us how tuned in to the treatment she was. At the end, the therapist said that the cranio-sacral fluid was flowing well now (at least that is how I have translated what she said in my mind). She also said that she thought there were old toxins in her body. Ben stayed near Rosie during this treatment alternately being calm or releasing energy himself through yawns and, at times, displacement biting of the wooden gate.

Again, hard to tell, but Rosie seems more vocal now. She had become very quiet when separated from Ben which happens when I ride him. I thought this was because she was so used to this. But the other day she called loudly as we left and loudly again as she heard us return. It is good to hear.

Agnus Castus:

I have read interesting things about this herb in relation to Cushings, so, it being available in our local tack shop, I have purchased a large tub. I thought I would offer some to Rosie in my hand to see what she would make of it before putting it in her feed. She ate it all and snuffled around my hand, clearly looking for more. As I have also read that it is recommended for hormonal geldings I offered some to Ben as well. Ben being Ben, he took some instantly but then I could see the pepperyness having its impact. He crunched, threw his head up and blew out through his nostrils, “hmmm, hmmm, hmmm”. He crunched again. I offered him the last bit and he turned his head away sharply. “No thank you”, I think. I turned to Rosie, who licked it up, with no such reaction to its flavour.

I have just started to give this to Rosie so it is too soon to look for any effects yet.

I have also ordered her Whinny Warmers for the winter (thank you for the recommendation Billie).

I go occasionally to a cranio-sacral therapist, a skilled lady, who has also worked with horses. I felt privileged when she agreed to come to Ben, the first time she has come to a horse outside her immediate family circle.

I have been aware of Ben’s dipped back, which is quite obvious in photos, but also of an imbalance in his back, his right side being more muscled than his left. Once, when I was riding him bareback, I found he kept shifting my weight over to his right side. I have had a chiropractor look at him, but felt that cranio-sacral therapy might help him also.

The dipped back appears exaggerated in this photo of Ben having decided to explore our courtyard:

The therapist came out on a rainy afternoon, clearing her diary for that afternoon, as she said that as horses have such large energy fields she prefers to keep time free after treating one. Ben came up to be caught and we brought him into the stable. He was initially very resistant, and, as I stood holding him, he kept trying to mouth me. This is not something he normally does and I presumed it was some displacement behaviour. He did start to relax and let out snorts and yawns, with lots of licking and chewing. I found myself sighing involuntarily with each release. Out in the paddock, Rosie had stopped grazing and stood, directly in my line of sight. She looked focused and intent. When Ben released, she would lick and chew.

The therapist found a lot to work on with Ben, from his poll down to his hips. She said that he had had a fall at some stage and told me that Ben let her know that he slipped out hunting about 4 years ago. This fall was the source of the imbalance in his back. She finished by holding his tail. Although I have experienced cranio-sacral therapy for myself, and have appreciated the balancing effect it has, I do not fully understand it. But when she held Ben’s tail, I could see muscle movement right up Ben’s back. Ben’s head dropped, his stillness was profound.

When she had finished, Ben stayed with us for a while, although Rosie moved away. Then Ben moved out to the paddock, walking slowly as if he were half asleep. We heard bird song around us. As we watched Ben, we saw Rosie suddenly trot away and realised that Ben was awake. He had a release of energy and moved after Rosie, snaking his neck. He stopped, pawed the ground as if to roll, stopped again. He turned to us where we stood in the door of the stable. He walked up, with a loose, swinging stride, lowered his head, touched his muzzle against my arm for a brief moment and then moved away.